Lunge Plus Challenge: Tighten your core and lower body!

For those of you who have been joining the April, May, June, and July Challenges, this one should be a good mix of all of the muscles we have been working on, and increasing our cardio and stamina, along with toning. For the August challenge, we will focus back on those lower legs doing lunges (both standing alternating, and walking) and burpees to help to work on agility and coordinate strength.

LungeLunges: 

All forms of lunges work the hips, abdominals, glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calf muscles. SO we will be tightening and strengthening the lower core muscles and the legs in this challenge! To perform a standing lunge properly:

Step forward with one leg. While keeping your back straight, bend your other leg until parallel with the floor and your back knee almost touches the floor. Make sure your front knee does not go over your ankle, it can cause injury and make you unstable.

 To perform an alternating walking lunge: 

Perform the same lunge as described above, but actually propel yourself forward and basically walk in a series of lunges!  You may look a little silly but you can add it into a daily walk or during chores; I do it all the time!

Burpees:

They are meant to be done in rapid succession, and through the various different exercises target your hamstrings, gluteal muscles, calves, biceps, triceps, pectoral muscles, hip flexors, and abs.  They are one stop shopping kind of exercises, so get ready to really test yourself!  To perform them properly:

1. Start standing upright    2. Drop to a squat with your hands on the floor    3. Keep your feet hands flat and kick your feet directly back   4. Immediately bring your feet back to the squat position   5. Jump back up to the standing position with your hands extended over your head.

As with all of the challenges, this is very difficult and if you have any medical issues you should speak with your Healthcare provider and obtain approval before starting.  Also, if you feel that you need to take a break on a day not listed as a rest day, listen to your body!

Day 1: 10 Burpees 10 Alternating lunges
Day 2: 10 Burpees 14 Alternating lunges
Day 3: 10 Burpees 18 Alternating lunges
Day 4: 10 Burpees 20 Alternating lunges
Day 5:10 Burpees 24 Alternating lunges
Day 6: 10 Burpees 26 Alternating lunges
Day 7: REST DAY
Day 8: 20 Burpees 26 Alternating lunges
Day 9: 20 Burpees 26 Alternating lunges
Day 10: 20 Burpees 30 Alternating lunges
Day 11: 20 Burpees 30 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 12: 20 Burpees 36 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 13: 20 Burpees 36 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 14: REST DAY
Day 15: 30 Burpees 40 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 16: 30 Burpees 40 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 17: 30 Burpees 50 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 18: 30 Burpees 60 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 19: 40 Burpees 70 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 20: 40 Burpees 80 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 21: REST DAY
Day 22: 50 Burpees 86 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 23: 50 Burpees 86 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 24: 50 Burpees 90 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 25: 50 Burpees 90 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 26: 60 Burpees 96 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 27: 60 Burpees 96 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 28: 70 Burpees 100 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 29: 70 Burpees 100 Alternating WALKING lunges
Day 30: 80 Burpees 100 Alternating WALKING lunges

Enjoy the challenge and be strong!

Yours in Good Health

B

June Exercise Challenge: Get a beach ready body!

I have had an amazing group of people who have joined the April Squat and May Plank Exercise Challenges; all of us have transformed our bodies, improved our health, and feel amazing. I must say, the May Plank Challenge seemed super hard for all of us, and it was, but we dug deep and got through it, and I think that we all felt amazing finishing the challenge!

So, for June, as we continue with some core work, we will be adding some upper body strength in the form of a dual challenge: Bicycle Crunches AND Push-ups! I know that people think Push-ups are horrible and basically the worst things ever, but after finishing the plank challenge you already have the core strength you need, we will be strengthening our upper bodies (think, arms!).

What are the benefits of these exercises?

Bicycle Crunches: these crunches target the internal and external obliques (part of your abdominal muscles that usually don’t get worked out with standard crunches), as well as the rest of your abdominal muscles (transverse and rectus abdominis).

Push-ups: this exercise is a great way to not only strengthen the core muscles BUT you also strengthen your wrists, forearms, chest (pectorals), shoulders, along with your biceps and triceps (upper arm muscles). Women tend to have less upper body strength than men, and they are a great way to start slowly and build it up, but you also strengthen/tone muscles in the legs, back, and abs (just like the planks).

How do I perform them correctly?

Bicycle crunches: Lie down flat, and rest your hands (interlocked) behind your head without putting pressure on your neck. Lift your legs so they are off the floor 2-4 inches, and exhale as you reach your left armpit to your right knee (as you pull your right knee up), hold for a second, then release and pull your left leg up as your pull your right armpit to it. Make sure you are using you core and NOT pulling on your neck, and go slowly, when people do these quickly they don’t see results AND they get hurt. So go slow and if you have lower back discomfort from laying flat, you can put a towel or extra mat under your lower back for some extra support.

Bicycle Crunch

Bicycle Crunch

 

 

 

 

Push-Ups: Get into a plank position (resting on your knees for beginners) and your arms shoulder width (or just a little wider for beginners) apart. keep your head and neck straight and in line with the rest of your body, keeping your hips straight, and bend your elbows down about 6 inches, then pull yourself back up to the starting position.

Bottom Position

Bottom Position

Top (starting and ending) Position

Top (starting and ending) Position

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Challenge (should you choose to accept it):

Day 1: 20 Bicycle crunches (BC) and 2 sets of 10 push-ups (PU)

2: 30 BC & 2 sets PU

3: 40 BC & 3 sets PU

4: 50 BC & 3 sets PU

5: 60 BC & 4 sets PU

6: 70 BC & 4 sets PU

7: Rest Day

8: 75 BC & 5 sets PU

9: 80 BC & 5 sets PU

10: 90 BC & 6 sets PU

11:100 BC & 6 sets PU

12: 110 BC & 7 sets PU

13: 120 BC & 7 sets PU

14: Rest Day

15: 125 BC & 8 sets PU

16: 130 BC & 8 sets PU

17: 140 BC & 9 sets PU

18: 150 BC & 9 sets PU

19: 160 BC & 10 sets PU

20: 170 BC & 10 sets PU

21: Rest Day

22: 175 BC & 11 sets PU

23: 180 BC & 11 sets PU

24: 190 BC & 12 sets PU

25: 200 BC & 12 sets PU

26: 210 BC & 13 sets PU

27: 220 BC & 13 sets PU

28: Rest Day

29: 230 BC & 14 sets PU

30: 250 BC & 15 sets PU

DONE!!!  You all can do it!  Split the BCs up as you need to, and if you have any medical conditions that may prohibit you from these exercises, please check with your Healthcare Practitioner before joining!

(For those of you who have done previous challenges, I still encourage 50-100 maintenance squats a day and no need for continued planks, as we will be getting the same benefits PLUS from the Push-ups!!)

Join me, won’t you?
Yours in Good Health,

B